THE WAITAKI DAM

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 10 August 1934, Page 5

THE WAITAKI DAM

WORK NEARS COMPLETION TOUR OF INSPECTION (By Telegraph —Press Association.) OAMARU, Aug. 9. In view of the early completion of the Waitaki da.ni about 60 business men of Oamaru, representatives of the Oamaru Borough Council, Waitaki County Council, Oamaru Harbour Board,' Waitaki Electric Power Board, Waitaki Hospital Board, Oamaru Chamber of Commerce and the Oamaru Rotary Club, paid a visit to the Waitaki hydro-electric works this afternoon at the invitation of Ml 1 R. H. Packwood (engineer in charge). Work on the dam has progressed this yviuter to .such a stage that it is only a matter of three or four yveeks before the huge structure will be completed. Tyvo small gaps m the crest of the yVall remain, and arrangements have been made to complete these next week.

Of eleven temporary sluiceways in the dam four have been sealed yvith concrete and twfcy are in progress of being sealed, leaving five remaining, of which three will be sealed during the next two yveeks. The remaining tyvo will then be sealed.

While tyvo permanent sluiceways cope yvith the present flow of the. river, Mr Packwood indicated that iu the event of a flood the remaining five gates could be lowered in three sluiceways in a hurry, when the dam would function in the generation of electricity, and the sealing of the remaining" sluiceways could be earned out next August, yvhen the river returns to its present’ low level. The organisation of the work is being synchronised to enable. the completion of the dam and the removal of the machinery from the upstream side of the dam at the same time. ~

Opportunity was taken to express deep appreciation of Mr Packwood’s assistance and couirtesy to local bodies during his six years’ stay in North Otago. The Mayor* of Oamaru, Mr M. F. Cooney, paid a tribute to the engineering genius of Mir Packwood and his organising ability over the staff and the rvork-men in bringing this huge undertaking to a successful conclusion. They were deeply indebted to Mr Packwoied and Airs Packwood for tlieir unfailing courtesy and hospitality. Mr Packwood had given devoted service te his department, and oil behalf of the citizens lie congratulated him on the success attending his efforts. Other speakers also paid high tributes to Mr Packwood’s engineering ability, and the hope yvas expressed that on the accomplishment of one of the greatest engineering undertakings in the history of the Public Works Department he yvould be a*aised to the ■lip-heat place in the department. Mr Clooney on behalf of the oitizens presented him with a present for Mrs Packwood in appreciation of her hospitality and the great assistance she had given her husband. In) reply Air Paekrvood acknowledged the. co-operation of the staff and specially mentioned the work of Messrs Bignell (ioVerseer), Geddes (power house construction), White (mechanical). and the designer of the scheme, Air F. T. Al: Kissel. The chief electrical engineer would be proud of the successful carrying out of the yvork. He was pleased to note the harbour board’s progressive proposal to deepen the water of the Oamaru port and lie hoped the district, with electricity and limestone and a deeper port, would become industrial in the manufacture of nitrates.